Alumni
About Curley
Students
Athletics
Arts
Admissions
Giving
Campus Store

The Masterclass Program

THE MASTERCLASS PROGRAM


As part of its academic curriculum, the Curley choral program offers to all choristers a masterclass, usually held in the spring of each academic year.  The masterclass brings a world-class choral conductor to the Curley campus to spend two days intensive work with our choirs.  Traditionally, a mini-concert is presented for the masterclass clinician to assess, and this assessment is followed by sessions stressing choral pedagogy and musical interpretation.  Exposing our young choristers to the tutelage of world-renowned musicians is an experience our choristers will remember for the rest of their lives.  Past MasterClass clinicians have included Mr. Stephen Cleobury, Dr. Gerre Hancock and Dr. Leo C. Nestor.   

The guest choirmaster for MasterClass 2013 was Dr. Stephen Cleobury.  Probably, at present, the world's most famous choral conductor, Dr. Cleobury has, since 1982, been director of the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, England.  This choir, founded in 1641, has sung continuously since that time and is among the most well-known choral organizations in the world.  Dr. Cleobury and the choir have numerous recordings to their credit, all on the world's most respected record labels.  Dr. Cleobury, prior to accepting his appointment at King's College, served as sub-organist at London's Westminster Abbey and, later, as Director of Music at the Roman Catholic cathedral in London, Westminster Cathedral.  He also served for many years as the conductor of the BBC Singers, one of Europe's premiere professional vocal ensembles.  He continues to serve as conductor laureate of the BBC Singers and is the conductor of the Cambridge University Musical Society.
 
Under Dr. Cleobury the Curley choristers learned vocal technique and focused, in their repertoire, on interpretive nuances.    All of the music that was featured during MasterClass 2013 will be performed during the Curley Choir's Spring Concert on Saturday, May 11, 2013 in the Curley Auditorium.